Sports from the eyes of Bay Area native Samuel Lam

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Remember when I was unhappy with how the NBA’s attempt at promoting their Latin Nights with poorly-worded uniforms? I just got an email from them with the above graphic.

I just can’t get over the idea that adding “El” or “Los” to a team name makes it Latin. At least, that’s the idea this whole promotion gives me. I get they are trying to do a promotion (and most importantly, sell merchandise) but some actual accuracy would be nice. I still don’t get how “Los Suns” can’t just be “Sols” or “Los Bulls” can’t be “Toros” instead?

As I’m watching the Suns and Heat wear their uniforms, I just can’t help but shake my head.

The Browns are getting a new uniform this year and today they unveiled their new helmet and and alternate logo. I was hoping for big changes. Instead, the changes are minimal.

Let’s first look at the helmet. The Browns are adding a brighter shade of orange to their identity, which means their logoless helmet will remain logoless, just with a different shade of orange. And instead of a gray facemask, it is now brown. The brown facemask is a first in the NFL I believe and it adds some identity to the helmet. I actually like this change. I was hoping for a logo on the helmet but that wouldn’t work for me. The Browns will always be a team without a logo for me and they stuck with it.

Here is a word from the team:

Our updated helmet logo is reflective of today’s modern Cleveland – the design honors the past while evolving into the future. The iconic brown and white stripes stand tall over the orange helmet – a new orange color that matches the passion of the Dawg Pound. The new brown facemask represents the strength and toughness of Cleveland.

I don’t like sleeved uniforms in the NBA. In fact, any sleeve uniform I just cringe when I see them. Yet for some reason, this matchup right here doesn’t bother me. I don’t know why.

First, this is the Rockets’ Chinese New Year uniform and it actually looks really good. Aside from the sleeves, the design is simple yet still captures the identity of the Rockets team. As a one-time deal, this one actually looks like it belongs in the NBA. In fact, this seems like a design I might see in a league in China.

The Wolves, out of all the sleeved jerseys out there, have one that doesn’t offend me so much. I like it also because of the simplicity. Black is a safe color to go with when it comes to sleeves and the side panels work really well with their identity.

So in a battle of very ugly jerseys, the two that were least offensive to me met on the court tonight. If you just look away from the sleeves, these jerseys aren’t too bad.

Like this:

The San Francisco Giants have unveiled a very unnecessary black alternate jersey today. They take a similar approach to what they did with their last black jersey. Except this time it’s not the team name, but their cap logo on the left side. (Oddly, they won’t have an accompanying cap for this jersey.) It’s the idea of their alternate road jersey, but in black.

Along with the black on black logo, they have orange piping and the sleeve stripe. They introduce a new sleeve patch as well. There will be no name on back, much like the home jersey, and the number will be in the same design as the logo in front.

I expected this to happen but I was unsure how the Warriors would go about it. The Rockets already have a Chinese New Year jersey coming out as well but this one by the Warriors is a little curious to me.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to have it be red or yellow instead of slate gray?

Here are some things that are worth noting. Warriors is written out in Chinese on the front. On the sleeve (yes, the stupid sleeves) is an image of a goat, which is the animal for the upcoming new year. Side panels look great and the trim is pretty nice. They will wear it on February 20, the day after the new year and three more times later in the season.

I’m all for this really and the Chinese population in the Bay Area is strong. And I am glad they didn’t add “el” or “los” or some kind of cultural cop out like the NBA has in the past. But I just don’t like the color. Great idea. Not so great execution.

The Seattle Mariners have unveiled a new Sunday alternate uniform. The team already have two alternate sets (navy, teal) along with their home whites and road grays.

I initially thought they would go the throwback route but instead they gave us a mixture of their current set with their inaugural colors. The uniform is cream white and there are no player names on the back.

The cap is the same current logo but also recolored. The team also have striped stirrups which I think is a really nice touch. Here are some up close photos from their unveiling today.

OK this baffles me. I am all for new designs and these designs are fine. But why the neon green? The Blue Jackets are hosting the game and their color scheme features no green. The black and green doesn’t work. It seems like they’re pulling from what the NFL did for their Pro Bowl.

It looks like it’s some chrome crest with a bunch of racing stripes down the side. Not a great look at all. Reebok messed up on this one.